Mahalin ang Ating Kultura: Weaving our indigenous heritage with Senator Loren Legarda and Kultura

MANILA, Philippines - In May 2012, Senator Loren Legarda launched “Hibla ng Lahing Filipino: The Artistry of Philippine Textiles,” the country’s first textile galleries, at the National Museum to celebrate indigenous artistry and to revitalize our weaving traditions.

“I have long dreamed of seeing a textile museum in my own country,” she says. “With more than a hundred cultural communities in the country, we should showcase our rich culture and the distinctiveness of our own weaves.”

The galleries house a vast collection of indigenous fabrics from all over the country — Abel Iloko from Vigan, Tinguian blankets from Abra, Ga’dang garments from Ifugao, textiles from South Cotobato, and Maranao garments from Southern Mindanao.  Traditional weaving looms, including pieces from Senator Legarda’s own collection, are also displayed in the textile galleries.

While the collection is as diverse as Philippine culture, it has “one common thread — the exceptional weaving skill and rich heritage that every piece of fabric in the galleries reveals,” says Senator Legarda. “These textiles reveal anecdotes of the individual soul, of the community, and of the saga of the Filipino people.”

The textile galleries are part of Senator Legarda’s many initiatives to promote the rich Filipino cultural inheritance and improve the welfare of indigenous cultural communities.

Her interest in indigenous peoples began when she featured various cultural communities in her programs as a broadcast journalist. When she entered politics, she became the voice of indigenous peoples in the Philippines.

As the only female Senator who topped the Senate race twice, with more than 15 million votes in 1998 and 18.4 million votes in 2007, Senator Legarda has been at the forefront of many landmark legislations. But as chair of the Senate Committee on Cultural Communities, her work with indigenous people has been close to her heart.

Senator Legarda authored the Philippine Tropical Fabrics Law of 2004, which mandated the use of indigenous fibers for the official uniforms of government officials and employees with the objective of strengthening the local fiber industry.

In 2011, she successfully organized regional assemblies — in Baguio City for Luzon IPs, in Iloilo City for Visayan IPs, and in Tagum City, Davao del Norte for Mindanao IPs — and the First National Indigenous Cultural Summit that served as avenues for dialogues of IPs with local and national policy makers as well as international institutions.

She also collaborated with state universities in the Cordilleras in documenting indigenous forest conservation systems such as the muyung in Ifugao, batangan in Mountain Province, imong in Kalinga, chontog in Benguet, lapat in Abra, and lapat in Apayao.

Through several cultural exhibits held in the Senate — “Isang Habi, Isang Lahi,” the “Mangyans of Mindoro, and Panay: Memory and Enchantment” — she was able to help showcase their exceptional skills and world-class products.

In October 2012, Senator Legarda launched her most recent initiative, the Hibla Pavilion of Textiles and Weaves of the Philippines, which is a highlight of the Manila FAME Design and Lifestyle Event 2012 at the SMX Convention Center.  Demonstrators at the Hibla Pavilion include members of the indigenous communities of the Ivatan, the Ga’dang, Hanunuo Mangyan, Subanen, Ata Talaingod, Blaan, Iraya Mangyan, Panay Bukidnon, T’boli, and the Maguindanaon.

Working for the cause of the indigenous communities has given Senator Loren priceless rewards. The cultural communities of Mindanao adopted her as Bae Matumpis, which means, “the one who takes care”; while the Panay-Bukidnon from the Visayas gave her the name Cuyong Adlaw Dulpa-an Labaw sa Kaduggan, which translates to “shining sun rising in power.” In northern Philippines, the Cordillera Women’s Indigenous League named her Tukwifi, which means “bright star”; while the Bontocs gave her the name Cha-i, which means “sensible and graceful.” In the olden times, it’s Cha-i who has a voice in the ‘ato,’ who argues with clarity and whose statements have sense.”       

Senator Legarda shares this passion for preserving our heritage and culture through the products of the IP groups with Kultura Filipino, a showcase of Filipino artistry, ingenuity and innovation.

“Kultura is an important platform to showcase our indigenous artistry and craftsmanship and make them known to all Filipinos and to the world,” she says. “Through Kultura, we are generating greater patronage for the creative industries of our indigenous peoples.”

She is particularly impressed with Kultura’s collection of “textiles and accessories skillfully made by our cultural communities,” which she discovered during a recent visit to the Makati store.

These skillfully crafted products from indigenous communities can be found at Kultura Filipino stores at SM Makati, SM Megamall, SM Mall of Asia, SM City Cebu, SM Lanang Premier, and at selected SM Department Stores.